Girls Cross Country
The thought really hit Hampshire’s Cassie Kruse during her sophomore year at the IHSA Girls Track and Field State Meet.
The bygone year saw a lot of “firsts” in McHenry County athletics. There were first state champions for schools around the area, record-setting performances, and some athletes who proved they were not only the best in the area, but best in the entire state.
CRYSTAL LAKE – As the fourth sister in her family, Crystal Lake Central freshman Sami Staples has a family athletic tradition to uphold.
Hampshire’s Cassie Kruse required a few seconds to add up all the state medals she has accumulated.
PEORIA – Sami Staples crossed the finish line and collapsed, saying “it felt like a million pounds” had been dropped on her.
By JOE STEVENSON
Boys athlete
ELK GROVE – Prairie Ridge’s Mitch Wilkins and Joe Cowlin will be running at the IHSA State Cross Country Meet in Peoria next week, but their teammates will not be competing.
BELVIDERE – Sami Staples runs fast and is quick at picking things up, which is a potent combination.
Boys athlete
ELBURN – As a freshman, Crystal Lake Central’s Sami Staples had no idea what to expect at the 2A Kaneland Cross Country Regional at Elburn Woods.
ROCKFORD – Jacobs’ Will Hennessy took second and led the Golden Eagles’ boys cross country team to the title with 47 points Saturday at the IHSA Class 3A Guilford Regional.
PALATINE – What Crystal Lake South junior Duncan Henderson didn’t know not only didn’t hurt him, it helped.
Athletes of the Week
BYRON – Marengo’s girls repeated as team champions, while Richmond-Burton’s boys grabbed their third title in four years at the Big Northern Conference Cross Country Meet on Saturday at Byron Forest Preserve.
CRYSTAL LAKE – Crystal Lake Central’s girls could not have run any better.
GRAYSLAKE – The new kids proved they belong.
Athletes of the week
CRYSTAL LAKE – The Crystal Lake Central girls volleyball team should have been confident going into the final day of its own two-day invitational Saturday after taking first place each of the past six years.
WOODSTOCK – Natalie Ricca had 23 assists to lead Crystal Lake Central’s volleyball team to a 25-17, 25-12 win against Woodstock North on Tuesday to remain undefeated in the Fox Valley Conference Fox Division.
Athletes of the Week
Athletes of the week
PALATINE – Mitch Wilkins was a bundle of nervous energy at school last week.
HARVARD – Only two strokes separated Woodstock’s top four golfers in a 163-167 non-conference victory against Marian Central on Wednesday at Plum Tree National.
Athletes of the Week
ROCKFORD – Crystal Lake South girls tennis coach Don Nead couldn’t have asked for much more Saturday, because you can’t beat perfect.
WOODSTOCK – Huntley senior Sara Scarbro experienced what it is like to win a race Saturday, but there was another aspect of the Woodstock Ryan Byrne Festival that she enjoyed.
Athletes of the week
WAUCONDA – Crystal Lake Central junior Alex Baker is relatively new to cross country, but he’s a fast learner.
CRYSTAL LAKE – Cary-Grove’s girls volleyball team won its second tournament this year, going 5-0 in the six-team Prairie Ridge Tournament to win the event for the third consecutive season.
WOODSTOCK – Stingy is something Harvard forward Nathan Baldwin isn’t.
RICHMOND – Richmond-Burton’s girls volleyball team remained undefeated Tuesday after a 25-19, 25-18, win against Winnebago.
Boys Athlete
CRYSTAL LAKE – Johnsburg’s Dan Fox put in more mileage than ever preparing for his senior cross country season.
GRAYSLAKE – Richmond-Burton’s girls volleyball team didn’t drop a game through four matches of Grayslake Central’s Ram Slam. The Rockets finally lost in the first game of the final Saturday.
Athletes of the Week
HUNTLEY – Crystal Lake Central’s Kelly McNeely achieved Class 2A All-State status each of the past two cross country seasons while battling through injuries.
ANTIOCH – Richmond-Burton’s girls cross country team won the Pat Harland Invitational on Thursday, placing four runners in the top 10.
Fox Valley Conference Fox Division
Area girls cross country competitions no longer will be races for second place.
